Tuesday was a Green-Letter Day for our company (we don’t do red), marking a major shift in how advertising investments are made and measured.

We proudly announced the relaunch of our Media Department in the new year as Modern View: The Smarter Way to Connect Broadcast & Streaming. This milestone reflects our core value Grow — staying curious, asking questions, and always learning.

What our team achieved — with contributions from every department — is extraordinary. Like climbing Mt. Everest, the path wasn’t always straight, but the goal was clear: Up, always!

Modern View unifies broadcast TV and streaming to match how today’s car shoppers consume content. By integrating platforms like Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN with traditional TV, dealers gain consistent, targeted reach across all screens. Campaigns are tailored to dealer goals, media schedules are synchronized, and Strong’s proprietary Retain platform enables smarter audience targeting. Direct partnerships with premium networks ensure top-tier ad placements, boosting ROI and market saturation.

This isn’t just a new program — it’s a breakthrough. It’s not just about impressions anymore; it’s about accountability and measurable impact. Our team’s relentless pursuit of clarity and innovation made this possible.

We’ve raised the bar, but there’s always another mountain. To grow, you must embrace change, challenge yourself, and never settle.

Self. Team. Respect. Optimize. Nurture. Grow.

In the STRONG acronym, ‘Grow’ stands as the final and most forward-looking Core Value. It represents our commitment to continuous improvement—not just surviving, but thriving. To grow means to raise the bar, embrace change, challenge ourselves, and never settle. It’s about becoming better as individuals, as teams, and as a company.

Here’s what some of our team leaders had to say about growth:

Creative Director Gene Gill:  Experience matters – and our team has decades of it – but evolution matters more. Because success isn’t about driving change – it’s leading through it.

Chief Marketing Officer Michael Sundquist: We are built to evolve… dedicated professionals who live and breathe new technology and digital marketing, always one step ahead

Director of Organic Marketing Katie Myers: it’s our in-house team of experts who give AI tools and technology purpose – combining insight with experience to keep you ahead of the curve

Art Director Holly Blalock: design isn’t just about making things look good — it’s about making your message move people, helping you sell more cars, and stay ahead of the curve.

Director of Paid Social Kerri Boozer: custom solutions are just the starting line. We utilize strategy that’s relevant, efficient, and built to drive more qualified traffic and sales.

Director of Paid Ad Avery Arthur: every dealership is different. Inventory moves fast. Incentives change…shoppers jump between Google, YouTube, and Discover…we turn that chaos into growth.

Growth is not just a goal—it’s a mindset. The pursuit of excellence demands both skill and attitude. As we continue to evolve, it’s our passion, adaptability, and relentless drive that set us apart. Because in the end, attitude is everything—and excellence is always within reach.

Driving through the rain toward Pursell Farms, I’m reminded of the purpose behind our off-site leadership retreat. It’s more than a meeting—it’s a moment to reset, refocus, and nurture the very people who carry our mission forward.

This morning, Proverbs 27:17 was in my Bible reading: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” That’s the essence of nurture. Before we can pour into our clients and help them grow, we must first sharpen ourselves—our leaders, managers, and directors. We must be aligned, disciplined, and ready.

Even in the midst of year-end chaos, we pause. We take two days to clear the fog, to see beyond the noise, and to cast a vision that will guide us—and our clients—into the future.

Last year, I called this summit Visio Manifesto—clear vision. And today, despite the cloudy skies, I’m reminded of Johnny Nash’s timeless lyric: “I can see clearly now the rain is gone.” Written during his recovery from cataract surgery, it’s a metaphor for clarity to overcome a  struggle. This retreat is our moment to nurture the soul of our company. And from that, everything else flows.

Nurture is not just about growth. It’s about encouragement, refinement, and connection. It’s about investing in our people so they can invest in others. It’s about sharpening each other, so we’re ready—together—for whatever comes next.

My dear friend and mentor, Billy Harvill, would have been proud. Billy convinced me about the power of public speaking—how it can elevate confidence and inspire others. His nurturing spirit helped me overcome a fear common to the vast majority, and I carry that forward by helping our team grow in their communication skills.

Yesterday, for the second time this year, we welcomed staff from the Buckley Public Speaking School to work with six rising stars in our agency. They focused on style, delivery, and clarity—essential tools for confident communication. Watching their progress reminded me how vital it is to invest in people, not just professionally but personally.

Opportunities abound here, but it’s up to each individual to embrace the challenge. Speaking in front of peers isn’t easy, but twelve team members have done it this year. That effort reflects our commitment to nurturing talent.

Our work is demanding—always pushing for better—and these coaching sessions reaffirm our belief in elevating others. We invest time and resources because we believe in our people’s potential to serve clients exceptionally.

Nobel Prize winner George Bernard Shaw once said, ‘The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.’ The essence of our core value, Nurture, is to make communication easy, clear, timely, and intentional. Effective communication at every level matters today more than ever.

No question, Harvill would agree.

Life is full of highs and lows, and it’s during the toughest times that our core value of Nurture truly shines.

At our last monthly agency kickoff meeting, I shared a moment that brought this value into sharp focus. Reflecting on our journey with Nate Lytle, one of our earliest team members, I shared the printouts I still keep showing the months when our company wasn’t profitable. Thankfully, those months were few—but they were formative. They reminded us that the true measure of an organization is how it navigates adversity.

Our clients experience similar fluctuations—great months followed by tough ones. What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to nurturing through both. We celebrate wins and dig deep during setbacks, always striving to keep our clients on track. Just like them, we all have good and bad days.

Nurture also means consistency. I have often spoken about Nick Saban, the legendary football coach. Watching him on the sidelines, you’d see him clapping and encouraging his players—even after an interception or a fumble. His support never wavered during mistakes. But when his team was comfortably ahead and made a mental error, that’s when he’d show frustration. Why? Because he demanded excellence, not just when it was easy, but especially when it was tempting to coast.

That’s nurturing leadership—motivating through failure and holding high standards through success. Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s quiet partner, once said, ‘Sometimes the tide is with us, and sometimes against. But we keep swimming either way.’

Consistency creates confidence. That’s the essence of Nurture

When you’re in a position to help others, and you choose to act, the question of ROI still matters. Is the group you’re supporting authentic? Do they walk the walk?

We recently sponsored four employees—Tara Kirk, Reeves Parrish, Josie Green, and Amelia Bennett—to serve with Hope for Kenya, a foundation introduced to us by our friend Philip Coltart. Their two-week mission supported Joy Schools International in Ndhiwa, contributing to classroom projects and vital community efforts like drilling wells.

Many prayers were said for their safety and success—and they were answered.

Reeves shared, “Saying goodbye to the children, I’ve cried more in the last two days than I ever expected. The relationships built here are real and raw. I’ve made lasting connections, and I’ll do whatever I can to return.”

Josie reflected, “There are very few things that could provide the kind of personal growth I got from this trip. Nothing you can watch, read, or hear prepares you for what you see with your own eyes.”

Tara expressed, “I feel at peace. I feel like I could stay longer. I don’t feel like I had enough time, but there’s always more chances to come back. I found a purpose that will grow.”

Amelia said, “I feel like I’m taking home a lifetime of change and friends for life. My sponsored child wants to be a pilot, and I’m excited to help him chase that dream. This experience has changed my attitude toward life in ways I never imagined.”

I urge you to view their attached ‘exit’ interviews. We are proud of how our First Four walked the walk and lived the words of John Bunyan: ‘You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.’

Support Hope for Kenya, you will be empowering success, the purest definition of our core value, Nurture.

You can watch their full testimonials here:

Reeve’s Testimonial 

Josie’s Testimonial

Tara’s Testimonial 

Amelia’s Testimonial 

This month, our core value focus is NURTURE, and to me, it truly embodies the essence of what we do at our company. Our Culture Team defined nurture as: “We take care of our people and our clients. We grow trust, loyalty, and results by showing up consistently, building relationships, and creating value every day.” This philosophy is not just a statement—it’s a way of life for us.

Reflecting on our journey, I think back to Ross Downing Chevrolet, the very first client Mike and I signed. That memory prompted the mindset of a farmer. You begin by preparing the soil, planting the seed, watering it, and fertilizing it. From that effort, something magical and special grows from seemingly nothing. This is the same nurturing process we apply to our relationships with clients and our team.

Nurturing is not about instant results. While we have the tools and technology to generate traffic quickly, the real magic lies in the consistency and care we provide daily. It’s this steady, full-time effort that builds confidence and sets us apart. Just like farming, we nurture through the good times—when the sun shines and the rain balances out—and through adversity. Ross Downing in Louisiana has weathered storms like Francine, Isaac, and Katrina, as well as industry challenges like inventory shortages. Yet, through it all, something truly special has grown.

Nurture is a team value. It’s about caring for our people, as well as the men and women of the dealerships we support. When you take care of the team, they take care of everything else, including the client. Growing is a full-time job, and nurturing is the heart of that growth. Let’s continue to plant, water, and grow—together.

One of the phrases we use to describe our core value, Optimize, reads, “constantly find ways to improve how we work and what we deliver.” Complementary to that is the phrase, “Use each day as a chance to make our product better.” These words have taken on new meaning for me recently.

Without any external pressure, I made a simple yet powerful change: rising 30 minutes earlier each day. This small shift—just 2% of the day—has brought clarity and purpose. My morning now begins with Bible study, grounding me in faith and sending a positive tone. I also take time to review emails and reflect on the previous day’s time-blocking notes, reprioritizing what matters most.

The biggest benefit of this practice is prioritizing—time with God, time reviewing, and time preparing for the day ahead. All in just 30 minutes, it’s proven to be a real blessing. In a world filled with noise and negativity, this sunrise exercise simplifies complexity and helps me attack the day with confidence.

Great athletes often say that during exceptional performances, everything slows down. While I’m not becoming bigger, stronger, or faster in these moments, I am starting my day with intention and clarity. This practice helps me feel better about myself and sets the tone for a well-utilized day—all 1440 minutes of it.

I measure exceptional people by a standard I call the 2%ers. Ironically, 30 minutes of 1440? You got it, 2%. And that 2% is making all the difference.

In life, we are blessed with the friendship of rare individuals who embody the very best of humanity. Mary Ann Martin was one of those people. Her passing on September 20th at the age of 94 leaves a profound void, but her legacy of beauty, grace, and strength will live on in the hearts of her family and countless friends.

Billy and Mary Ann married in 1950 and launched their agency, Martin & Associates, in 1959. When Mike joined in 1973, he and Billy quickly rose to prominence by focusing on automotive advertising. Behind their success stood Mary Ann—steadfast, sharp, and always watching over the business. Even into her late 80s, she ran the office and kept a close eye on the finances.

Together, Billy and Mary Ann built one of the most respected automotive agencies in the country. Today, Martin Retail Group serves thousands of dealerships nationwide. Their legacy is not just in business, but in family. They raised three successful children, including David Martin, who hired me in 2002 and became my first mentor. In those early days, it was Mary Ann who checked in on me daily, making sure I stayed on track.

Her obituary captured her spirit perfectly:

“Mrs. Martin worked tirelessly with her husband to keep the companies running smoothly and successfully. Her most significant contribution was a genuine love for her employees and their families.”

Mary Ann and Billy were blessed with 7 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. As her obituary beautifully stated:

“‘Mimi never lectured or raised her voice, but gently admonished, always with love… The North Star of a tight-knit family, she treasured nothing more than keeping family close.”

That North Star metaphor couldn’t be more fitting. Mary Ann loved the Lord and lived her faith with quiet strength. She was the rock of her family and her organization, always giving her best to help others become their best.

Prayers for the family, peace and joy as they celebrate Mary Ann and Billy —reunited again, forever.

At Strong Automotive, we live our core value ‘Optimize’ by embracing bold experimentation. This spirit shines in our First Four employees— Reeves Parrish, Amelia Bennett, Josie Green, and Tara Kirk – who will travel over 30 hours to volunteer in Kenya with Hope for Kenya.
Led by our good friend Philip Coltart, the team will support Joy Schools International in Ndhiwa, contributing to classroom projects and vital community efforts like drilling wells for fresh water.

Reeves is a Senior Account Coordinator, and November marks 3 years with Strong. She has been to Africa before, and was excited to share her thoughts on going back:

What was your “I’m going to do this!” rationale for answering the call?
I’ve always been drawn to learning about other cultures. This seemed like a great opportunity to not only go serve with a team doing great work in Kenya and represent Strong well, but to have my worldview expanded and build relationships with people I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet otherwise.

What do you most look forward to?
I’m most looking forward to meeting the team at Hope for Kenya and the students they serve and learning more about their stories. Learning about the experiences of others can provide new perspectives. I’m excited to be able to give my full attention to the team there and learn more about their “why” as an organization and how we at Strong can continue to be involved with their mission.

Did you ever imagine yourself doing this?
There was a time in my life where I saw myself living in another country with a ministry as an English teacher, so this experience is something near to my heart. I still have a passion for working with kids in any capacity that helps them grow to love learning and continuing their education.

Gotta ask, any fears?
Honestly, no. I’m looking forward to whatever Kenya brings! My faith is a large part of who I am and I’ve had an overwhelming peace about this trip since I submitted the interest form.

To you, Reeves, I share this most positive thought: “Inner peace is the greatest success. It makes your world a paradise.” I cannot wait to hear the stories after 12 days in Kenya.

God bless the First Four!